Seattle rattled by Galaxy goal late in the first half

A Robbie Keane goal seconds before the end of the first half ruined Seattle's gameplan and derailed the Sounders.

By Knowles Adkisson

Nov 12, 2012 2:37:00 AM

The plan Seattle coach Sigi Schmid drew up before heading to Los
Angeles for a crucial Western Conference finals first leg was
simple: pack the midfield, keep the ball away from LA’s dangerous
attackers, and head back to Seattle and 40,000-plus screaming fans
level on goals.

For exactly 45 minutes Sunday, the strategy worked. The Sounders
enjoyed an early edge in possession and kept the Galaxy off the
score sheet. When repeated counterattacks through Sean Franklin and
Landon Donovan threatened to overrun Seattle midway through the
first half, a Sounders midfield led by Osvaldo Alonso temporarily
halted the assault by stringing together passes and testing Josh
Saunders from long range.

But moments after the stadium PA announcer announced the start
first half stoppage time, everything unraveled. Galaxy right back
Sean Franklin, who had gotten behind the Seattle defense several
times already, streaked down the right sideline and crossed to
Landon Donovan in the Seattle penalty area. Donovan took two
touches and chipped across the goal to a waiting Robbie Keane, who
headed home for a 1-0 Galaxy advantage.

And just like that, out went the pregame plan.

“We were a minute away in the first half from having it go the way
we want it to go,” Schmid said.

In the visitors’ locker room, Schmid told his players not to change
what they were doing; keep clogging the midfield, keep holding the
ball, because a one-goal deficit would not be too much to overturn
on the return leg in Seattle.

But when the second half whistle blew, the Sounders seemed not to
have heard their coach’s message. They became stretched, wandered
far upfield and exposed themselves to the Galaxy’s specialty under
head coach Bruce Arena: a ruthless and frightening
counterattack.

After several close calls, they paid for it. In the 64th minute, a
Seattle turnover near the Galaxy penalty box eventually fell to
David Beckham, who linked up with Keane at midfield. Keane split
the Seattle defense when he found an overlapping Sean Franklin, who
squared to Mike Magee for an easy finish and a 2-0 lead. The Galaxy
added a third three minutes later, and the scoreline could have
easily ballooned to 5-0 or 6-0 as the Galaxy tore through a
disorganized Sounders side.

After the game, Sounders players said they tried to stick to the
game plan, but admitted the goal changed things.

“We were trying to hold the ball. Unfortunately we gave up one
goal, 45th minute of the first half, I think in that moment we knew
one goal was okay. We came to the second half with the same
mentality, to hold the ball and keep the score [at 1-0],” said
forward Fredy Montero. “I don’t know exactly what happened [in the
second half], but we couldn’t find a way to score goals, but at the
same time they are a really good team and they score the
opportunities that they have.”